Following the direction of the creek he kept near the margin of the
wood till he came to a public road. He had some doubts about trusting
himself out of the forest, even for a single moment; so he seated
himself upon a rock to argue the point. If any one should happen to
come along, he was almost sure of furnishing a clew to his future
movements, if not of being immediately captured.

This was a very strong argument, but there was a stronger one upon the
other side. He had eaten nothing since dinner on the preceding day,
and he began to feel faint for the want of food. On the other side of
the creek he saw a pasture which looked as though it might afford him
a few berries; and he was on the point of taking to the road, when he
heard the rumbling of a wagon in the distance.

His heart beat with apprehension. Perhaps it was some officer of the
institution in search of him. At any rate it was some one who had come
from the vicinity of the Reform School, and who had probably heard of
his escape. As it came nearer, he heard the jingling of bells; it was
the baker. How he longed for a loaf of his bread, or some of the
precious gingerbread he carried in his cart! Hunger tempted him to run
the risk of exposure. He had money; he could buy cakes and bread; and
perhaps the baker had a kind heart, and would befriend him in his
distress. The wagon was close at hand.

"Now or never," thought he; but this time it was not _now_. The
risk was too great. If he failed now, two years of captivity were
before him; and as for the hunger, he could grin and bear it for a
while.

"Now or never;" but this time it was escape now or never; and he
permitted the baker to pass without hailing him.

He waited half an hour, and then determined to take the road till he
had crossed the creek. The danger was great, but the pangs of hunger
urged him on. He was sure there were berries in the pasture, and with
a timid step, carefully watching before and behind to insure himself
against surprise, he crossed the bridge. But then a new difficulty
presented itself. There was a house within ten rods of the bridge,
which he must pass, and to do so would expose him to the most imminent
peril. He was on the point of retreating, when a man came out of the
house, and approached him. What should he do? It was a trying
moment. If he ran, the act would expose him to suspicion. If he went
forward, the man might have already received a description of him, and
arres